1. Student Counselling Service

2. Being a student is a time of change... Often it’s great, but there can be tough times too … finding friends finding friends settling into a new environment settling into a new environment difficulties with concentration difficulties with concentration new subjects, approaches, skills … new subjects, approaches, skills … family difficulties family difficulties traumatic experiences traumatic experiences

3. Tough times can lead to different reactions anxiety anxiety difficulty concentrating difficulty concentrating family tensions family tensions lack of motivation lack of motivation obsessive behaviour obsessive behaviour difficulty sleeping difficulty sleeping phobias phobias relationship problems relationship problems depression depression social anxiety social anxiety problem alcohol use problem alcohol use eating disorders eating disorders perfectionism perfectionism addiction addiction self-harm self-harm suicidal thoughts suicidal thoughts

4. The question is: how severe? how severe? how persistent? how persistent? impact on daily life? impact on daily life? We can all experience different aspects of these reactions at times

5. Why talk to a counsellor? Counsellors are different from friends and family they are outside your daily lifethey are outside your daily life will not judge, criticise or make assumptionswill not judge, criticise or make assumptions neutralneutral only source of information about you is youonly source of information about you is you

6. Why talk to a counsellor? You might need: You might need: space to talk space to talk no pressure no pressure professional advice professional advice

7. Counselling can help you to... understand yourself understand yourself think things through think things through acknowledge feelings acknowledge feelings work through them work through them change negative patterns change negative patterns consider options consider options make choices make choices

8. concerns when thinking about counselling Does going to a counsellor mean I’m a failure? I don’t want to be reminded of how bad I feel I can sort my problems on my own No-one can understand how I feel I really must be in a bad way I don’t want to talk to a stranger Maybe I won’t like the counsellor It might make me worse It’s like saying I’m weak Once you start counselling it never ends Suppose I won’t know what to say? What would my friends think? I might get upset Counselling could get in the way of my studies If I go to counselling will it all be sorted? I feel ashamed of my problems

9. Coming to counselling takes courage - it involves facing yourself Counselling is a commitment of time and energy Counselling is an investment in you

10. Student Counselling Service Assessment Assessment Drop-in service (2.15 to 4.15 Monday - Friday) Drop-in service (2.15 to 4.15 Monday - Friday) One-to-one counselling One-to-one counselling Group therapy Group therapy Workshops Workshops Referral to other services Referral to other services Consultation for staff who are concerned about how to deal with students in distress Consultation for staff who are concerned about how to deal with students in distress

11. The Student Counselling Service is free free confidential confidential

12. Student Counselling Service 5 Distillery Road ( near AIB bank, Newcastle Road ) 5 Distillery Road ( near AIB bank, Newcastle Road ) 091 492484 091 492484 counselling@nuigalway.ie counselling@nuigalway.ie counselling@nuigalway.ie http://www.nuigalway.ie/student_services/ counsellors/ http://www.nuigalway.ie/student_services/ counsellors/ http://www.nuigalway.ie/student_services/ counsellors/ http://www.nuigalway.ie/student_services/ counsellors/ HEAD OF COUNSELLING Bea Gavin COUNSELLORS Geraldine Emer Éamonn Mark Connolly Casey Ó Dochartaigh Campbell ADMINISTRATOR Fíona Kennedy new Alcohol and Addiction Counsellor

13. Suicide Risk Factors Current/past difficulties Current/past difficulties Changes in sleeping/ eating/ energy patterns Changes in sleeping/ eating/ energy patterns Isolation Isolation Addictions Addictions Previous attempts Previous attempts Suicide by friend/family member Suicide by friend/family member Suicidal Ideation Suicidal Ideation Suicide Plan Suicide Plan Depressed Mood Depressed Mood Dissociation Dissociation